Improvement in rotary engines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR STENBERG,.OF HELSINGFORS, FINLAND, RUSSIA, ASSIGNOR TO JULIUSBLANCKE, OF MERSEBURG, GERMANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,884, dated April23, 1878 application filed March 21, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that -I, OSCAR STEN'BERG, of Helsingfors, Finland, Russia,have invented a new and Improved Rotary Engine, of which the followingis a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved rotary engine, partly in section, on line a: m, Fig. 2; andFig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the casing of theengine on line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention relates to an improved rotary engine or pump that is basedon the differential action of a number of pistons acted uponsuccessively by the steam or water, so as to revolve a common crankcoupled to the pistons; and the invention consists of a casing with fourinterior cylinders at right angles to each other, and connected by achannel or duct with each other, in combination with entrance anddischarge ports, and four successively-acting pistons that are coupledto the wrist-pin of a common crank at the interior end of a shaftturning in a suitable stuffingbox of the cylinder-casin g.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a casing of cylindrical shape,which is provided at the interior with a central cylindrical space, A,from which radiate four hollow cylinders, B, whose axes are at rightangles to each other. The cylinders are connected by a channel, G, thatleads from the first or lower cylinder to the one next adjoining; thento the third, and, finally, to the fourth cylinder, the steam enteringthrough a port, a, of the first cylinder, and expanding and dischargingthrough the exhaust-port b of the fourth cylinder. Each cylinder B isprovided with a piston, D, that is connected by a pivoted rod, D, with acominon crank-pin, E, to which all the four pistons are coupled. Theoutside end of each cylinder is closed by tightly-packed end plates,also the interior connecting-space A by side plates, of which that sideplate through which the crank-shaft F passes is provided with astuffing-box, F, to prevent any escape of the steam or water. Thesupply-port a is arranged in the bottom of the casing, and with an exhaust-port, b, in the end plate of the fourth cylinder. The lower pistonand cylinder is equal to one-half of the area of the remaining pistons,for the purpose of enabling the diametrically-opposite piston tooverpower the smaller piston, and work thereby with the same force onthe crank when the steam acts thereon.

The working of the machine as a rotary steam-engine is as follows: Whenthe crankpin is in its first position, marked I, as shownin the drawing,the first and second pistons shut 05 the connecting-channel O, steambeing admitted through the supplyport a. The first piston is then movedso that the channel is opened, and steam admitted thereto, and thecrank-pin moved through one quarter of its revolution into its secondposition, marked II in Fig. 2. As soon as the crank-pin is beyond thepoint II the second piston opens the channel, and allows the steam toenter into the second cylinder, so as to work on the second piston,while at the same time the third piston shuts the channel in the thirdcylinder. The action of the steam on the second piston throws the sameback, and moves the crank around the second quarter of its revolution tothe point marked III in Fig. 2, the result being the opening of thesupply-channel in the third cylinder. The steam can then work on thethird piston, while at the same time the fourth piston closes thechannel in the fourth cylinder. The crank now moves through the thirdquarter of its revolution to the point marked H11, and is finallycarried by the impetus given by the fly wheel of the crank-shaft throughthe remaining quarter of a full revolution into its first position, bywhich the channel in the fourth cylinder becomes open, so as to allowthe steam to escape through the exhaust-port b. The machine then worksagain, as before described, the shaft completing its revolution by thesuccessive admission of steam through the connecting-channel of thecylinders. The engine may also be worked by water-power in the samemanner, and with equal facility, as by steam.

If the machine is to be used as a pump the crank-shaft is driven by someother power,

and the pistons are worked alternately as suction and force pistons, abeing the suctionpipe, I) the discharge-pipe. The machine may be alsocombined in many Ways, as, for instance, two machines connected by thesame crank-shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to furnish a double engine,the cranks being in this case placed diametrically to each other, sothat no dead-points are to be overcome.

In the same way two machines may be connected, and one used as asteam-engine, while the other is used as a pump, so as to furnish asteam-pump of very compact and effective construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine the combination of the solid casing havingcylinders radiating from a common center space, also a connectingchannel or duct, and supply and discharge ports, with pistons coupled toa common crank-pin, and revolved by the successive action of steam orwater upon the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a casing having cylinders radiating from a centerspace at right angles to each other, a connecting-channel or duct, andsupply and discharge ports, with pistons successively acted upon andcoupled to a common crank, the piston of the first or entrance cylinderhaving but half the area of the diametrically-opposite piston,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this20th day of December, 1877.

OSCAR STENBERG.

Witnesses:

WILH. ZIGENHORN, RiJDOLF HUNLAND.

